CarSpecsHQ

215/55R17 vs 215/50R18

215/50R18 is a safe swap for 215/55R17 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.58%.

17" → 18"
215/55R17 26.31" · 215/50R18 26.46" · drawn to scale

Side by side

215/55R17215/50R18Difference
Overall diameter26.31"26.46"+0.15" (+0.58%)
Section width215 mm215 mm0 mm
Sidewall4.66"4.23"-0.42"
Rim17"18"+1"
Circumference82.7"83.1"+0.5"
Revs per mile767762-4
Ride height——+0.08"
Speedometer reads 60 mph60.060.4+0.4 mph

Speedometer and odometer

020406080100120 reads 60 · actual 60.4 mph

With 215/50R18 on a car calibrated for 215/55R17, the speedometer reads 59.7 mph when you're really doing 60, and the odometer under-counts by 0.6%.

Speedo showsActual speed
30 mph30.2 mph
45 mph45.3 mph
60 mph60.4 mph
70 mph70.4 mph
80 mph80.5 mph

Other sizes close to 215/55R17

Questions

Can I replace 215/55R17 with 215/50R18?

215/50R18 is a safe swap for 215/55R17 by the usual ±3% rule: the diameter differs by +0.58%.

What's the difference between 215/55R17 and 215/50R18?

215/50R18 is 0.15" taller and 0 mm wider; the sidewall is -0.42". At an indicated 60 mph you'd actually be doing 60.4 mph.

Will 215/50R18 fit on 215/55R17 wheels?

No — 215/55R17 needs a 17" wheel and 215/50R18 a 18" wheel. This is a plus/minus-size swap that changes wheels too.